Page 6 of The Duke's Pet

He stepped back. “No, miss, I just take my job and my reputation seriously.”

“Very well, wait outside. Though you can hardly ‘un-know’ that the duke has had dealings with a brothel now, can you.”

“Sadly, that is true.” He turned and left, shutting the door behind himself.

“He’s a funny one.” Emily shook her head.

“Not half as funny as this letter.” Madam rubbed her chin as she reread it.

“He wants a woman to do what?” Emily asked after a few moments. “That’s what you started saying.”

“He’s quite specific.” She flapped the letter. “I’ll read it right out.”

“Okay.” Emily leaned against the wall and glanced at Jemima.

Jemima got the impression this was all most unusual and Emily was enjoying the drama.

“Dear Madam. Forgive me for contacting you this way but it is some time since I have left the grounds of Hillcrest, five years in fact, since the death of my dear wife. I have reached the conclusion now, however, that I would like to pay for female company.”

“Why does he have to pay for it?” Emily said. “He’s rich; surely women are falling over themselves to marry him.”

“If he doesn’t leave his estate he won’t meet them,” Jemima offered.

Emily nodded. “True.”

“And if they did meet him they might find his desires a little... odd.” Madam frowned.

“Now I’m really curious,” Emily said, raising her eyebrows.

“I’ll go on then.” Madam lifted the letter again. “Naturally when I came to this decision to pay for a woman your establishment came to mind, having visited once, as a younger man.”

“He came here? To The Rose and Thorns,” Emily exclaimed.

“Yes,” Madam chuckled. “He did, once. He was still wet behind the ears, and with a toffee-nosed friend. If I recall it was just before his wedding and he was bamboozled by his friend into taking a woman to bed. He had room six, at the end, if my memory serves me correct.”

“He took a woman to bed so he knew what to do on his wedding night,” Jemima said.

“I guess so.” Madam nodded.

“Sweet, really.” Jemima had never thought a man would do that. It struck her as considerate.

Madam cleared her throat. “So I ask you this, Madam, in strictest confidence, to send me a young woman for the period of a week. I am happy to pay one pound to you for this service.”

“Bloody hell.” Emily’s eyebrows rose. “I’ll go.”

Madam shook her head. “No, you won’t.”

“Why? I could live like a lady at Hillcrest and I could teach the duke a thing or two.”

“You can’t go.” Madam shrugged.

“Why not?”

“Because.” Madam paused. “He wants a virgin.”

“What?” Emily laughed. “Is he living in cloud cuckoo land? There’s no virgins around here and...” Her words trailed off. She turned to Jemima.

Madam dipped her head again and continued to read. “I must insist that the woman is a virgin and able to follow my instructions without question, whatever they are. She must also be an expert in knowing how and when to be quiet. I am a botanist with important work to conduct in my study. I cannot bear noise, I don’t mind purring, but too much conversation is not what I desire.”

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